THE World Choir Games started in
Tshwane on July 4, the first time
this global biennial event, which
features over 300 choirs, has been held
in Africa.
Danie van Wyk, gm of Duma ICE
and Sport, told TNW that Duma was
appointed the official tourism partner
responsible for accommodation services
and immediately set about sourcing
accommodation in the Tshwane region
for the 16 000 international participants
plus their friends and families.
Danie says it involved the painstaking
tasks of contacting and vetting schools,
universities, hotels and guest houses
in Pretoria and surrounding areas to
determine their suitability. This was a
daunting task, as the initial event specs
had estimated international attendance
of between 15 000 and 30 000
attendees.
Accommodation categories were then
broken down into three sections. The
most popular basic accommodation
options were sourced from school
and university residences, mid-range
options were sourced from two- and
three-star hotels, and four- and five-star
properties were sourced for the luxury
options. Danie says persuading the
various accommodation establishments
to offer similar pricing within the
three accommodation brackets was a
particular challenge. Choir registration
then commenced, with Duma booking
more than 36 000 bed nights over the
next six months or so.
Danie says the event is the largest
Duma has arranged to date. He says
the permanent Duma specialist team
who organised the event consisted of
seven people who sourced and booked
all the accommodation over the past 18
months. Duma has also had to bring
in dozens of contract workers to assist
with operational tasks. For instance,
contractors have had to be stationed
at each of the 40 accommodation
establishments during the event.
Themba Nthombeni, ceo of Duma,
says he hopes the hosting of this global
event in Africa will spur more regional
choir games, as over 9 000 people are
participating in the event from South
Africa alone.
